Product description

This book gives an accessible account of classical Greek history, from the aftermath of the Persian Wars in 478 BC to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. The author describes the years which witnessed the flourishing of democracy in Athens; the establishment of the Athenian empire; the Peloponnesian War, which involved the whole Greek world; the development of Macedonian power under Philip II; and the conquests of Alexander the Great. His account combines narrative with analysis, and deals with major social, economic and cultural developments as well as political and military events. Rhodes details the evidence on which his narrative is based, which includes inscriptions, coins and material remains, and outlines the considerations, which have to be borne in mind in using this evidence.

Author information

P. J. Rhodes is Professor Emeritus of Ancient History at the University of Durham. He is the author of many books on Greek history, including "The Athenian Boule "(1972), "A Commentary on the Aristotelian Athenaion Politeia" (1981), the Penguin "Aristotle: The Athenian Constitution" (1984), "The Decrees of the Greek States "(with D. M. Lewis, 1997) and "Greek Historical Inscriptions" (with R. Osborne, 2003).

Review quote

"It is superbly fitted for the purpose [of an undergraduate textbook]... extremely full, clear and detailed... A model of how this sort of history should be written." BBC History Magazine "A thoughtful and measured treatment, especially valuable for undergraduates. Beats its rivals for sheer thoroughness and sagacity." David Whitehead, Queen's University Belfast "A reliable history, with an up-to-date bibliography concluding each chapter... well-fitted for an undergraduate survey course in the classical world." Choice "Peter Rhodes ... is one of the most formidable living scholars of Classical (5th and 4th centuries BC) Greece and especially of the political institutions of the Athenian democracy ... Rhodes's typically clear, sober and detailed accounts of the 5th-century Athenian empire, the Atheno-Peloponnesian War and the 4th-century Second Athenian League may well become the first port of call for undergraduate essay writers - and more enduring resources for their mentors." Times Higher Education Supplement "This volume is therefore a valuable resource for any teacher of this period of Greek History, so one for the departmental library would be helpful, and at university level any undergraduate would find that it provides an excellent overview." Journal of Classics Teaching "Rhodes has written a very accessible work on the classical Greek world ... highly recommendable and very suitable for undergraduates, not only as an introduction to the Greek classical world but also as a textbook for the proper methodological approach." Scholia "This book demonstrates a breadth of scholarship but remains easy to read and understand."Ancient West & East

Table of contents

List of Illustrations. List of Figures. List of maps. Preface. Note on references. 1. Introduction. 2. The Formation of the Delian League. 3. The Peloponnese in the Early Fifth Century. 4. Athens After the Persian wars. 5. The Athenian Empire in the Mid Fifth Century. 6. Periclean Athens. 8. The Peloponnesian War: Origins. 9. The Peloponnesian War: Resources and Strategies. 10. The Peloponnesian War: 431-421. 11. The Athens of Cleon. 12. the Peloponnesian War: 431-413. 13. The Peloponnesian War: 413-404. 14. Athens in the Late Fifth Century. 15. The Athenian Empire: Retrospect. 16. Introduction to the Fourth Century: The Common Peace. 17. Sparta's Imperialism and Collapse.Appendix: Persia and Its rebels. 18. The Second Athenian League. 19. Thebes and Northern Grece. 20. Athens After the Peloponnesian War. 21. The Western Greeks from Dionysius I to Timoleon. 22. Philip II of Macedon.Appendix : Persia and the Greeks in teh Reign of Artaxerxes III. 23. Demosthenic Athens.Appendix : Sparta.24. Alexander the Ggreat: Sources and Outline. 25. Alexander the Great: Topics. 26. Epilogue. Bibliography. Index.